Multiple-barrel hand weapon with selective barrel discharge capability

ABSTRACT

A multiple-barrel hand weapon with selective barrel discharge capability containing a like number of cartridges and having a selectively adjustable arming mechanism so that a shooter can fire each cartridge individually by successive actuations of the trigger or, alternatively, can fire groups of cartridges simultaneously upon successive actuations of the trigger.

United States Patent Myron J. Block Nahant, Mass.

June 25, 1969 Aug. 10, I971 Block Engineering, Inc. Cambridge, Mass.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee MULTIPLE-BARREL HAND WEAPON WITH SELECTIVE BARREL DISCHARGE CAPABILITY 2 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 42/42 R, 42/ l R Int. Cl Fdlc 19/00 Field of Search" 42/42 R 41, 1 0. 1 J.Ti iiffiita n. 2, 65, 59

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,637,079 7/l927 Karner, Jr 42/69 l,772.227 8/l930 Revelli 42/69 2,902,788 9/1959 Laager 42/42 3,142,925 8/ l 964 Miller 42/42 3352046 NH 967 Warner et al 42/l G Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorneys-Robert J. Schiller and Schiller and Pandiscio ABSTRACT: A multiple-barrel hand weapon with selective barrel discharge capability containing a like number of cartridges and having a selectively adjustable arming mechanism so that a shooter can fire each cartridge individually by successive actuations of the trigger or, alternatively, can fire groups of cartridges simultaneously upon successive actuations of the trigger.

Patented Aug. 10, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 MYRO/V J BLOCK INVENTOR BY SW g Amway ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 10,1971 I 3,597,870

4 Sheets Sheet 2 MYRO/V J, BLOCK INVENTOR BY AMLU 3 B ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 10, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 MYRO/V J BLOCK INVENTOR BY 3% i PQMML ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 10, 1971 3,597,870

4 Sheets-Sheet A 1 m In H4 7 FIG. 7a

M YRO/V J BLOCK INVENTOR F/G. ll.

BY 3% & bqMlx/Qcio ATTORNEY MULTIPLE-BARREL I'IAND WEAPON WI'II'I SELEC'IIVE BARREL DISCHARGE CAPABILITY This invention relates to multiple-barrel firearms and more particularly to a hand weapon such as a derringer; specifically a weapon with which a shooter can discharge selected groups of barrels upon a single actuation of the trigger or, alternative ly, can discharge each barrel separately by successive actuations of the trigger.

It should be appreciated that under certain conditions, such as an unexpected, close-quarter attack, one may have little time to defend oneself and thus have little opportunity to aim and fire a weapon in defense. Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a small, compact hand weapon which is effective at close quarters'with little or no aiming. Another object is to provide in such a weapon the capability of multiple-barrel discharge, and to provide means by which all barrels can be simultaneously readied for rapid discharge. Another object is to provide a multiple-barrel weapon with which a shooter can discharge groups of barrels upon the single actuation of the trigger or, alternatively, discharge individual barrels upon successive actuations of the trigger. Yet another object is to provide, in a multiple-barrel weapon, the ability to discharge an adjustably variable number of barrels, simultaneously, in groups of anynumber up to the total number of barrels in the weapon. Other objects are to provide a small, compact hand weapon capable of firing six bullets simultaneously, or in lesser groups, or individually without recocking the weapon, until the weapon has been totally discharged.

The above and other objects are achieved by a weapon including a breech frame which is pivotally connected to a bore piece comprising six substantially parallel barrels and a shell ejector mechanism. The breech frame is comprised of a handle, trigger and trigger mechanisin, and also arming and firing mechanism, the latter including six firing pins and a corresponding number of hammers and hammer springs. The weapon is opened by pivoting the bore piece relative to the breech so that cartridges (e.g. 22 caliber) can be inserted into the corresponding barrels. When the weapon is closed, by pivoting the bore piece into axial alignment with the breech, all six hammers are cocked simultaneously. I

Disposed on the outer surface of the weapon is an adjustable indicator coupled to the trigger mechanism. This indicator, when set to any one of six possible positions, arms the firing mechanism so that when the trigger is actuated, the number of barrels discharged corresponds to the position of the indicator. For example, the arming mechanism can be successively set at each position so that one barrel will be discharged upon each following actuation of the trigger. Alternatively, to have a plurality of the barrels simultaneously discharged, the indicator may be positioned so that a group of barrels can be discharged on the next successive actuation of the trigger.

Yet other objects of the present invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be had to the following FIG. is a sectional view showing the internal frame of the handle, together with a trigger mechanism and some of the cocking and firing mechanism of the weapon of FIG. 1-,

detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 4

FIG. I is a side elevation of a hand weapon constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. I but showing the weapon in an open or broken position, ready to receive shells;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view showing the barrels and case ejector mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken through line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing a number of the elements of the firing and cocking mechanism of the weapon of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken through line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing the firing pin and a fragment of the firing mechanism taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6 of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded view showing the arming lever and associated elements of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the trigger of the weapon;

FIG. 11 is a view partly in phantom showing the relation of the trigger and trigger selector mechanism of the weapon;

FIG. I2 is a view partly in phantom of selected elements of the mechanism of FIG. 5 showing them in the cocked position; I

and

FIG. 13 is a view partly in phantom of selected elements of the embodiment of FIG. 5 is a position at the time of firing.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 the exterior features of .the weapon which comprises two major portions, barrel assembly 20 and breech frame assembly 22. The latter includes stock 24, and supports trigger 26, cocking lever 28, thumb safety lever 29, and .firing selector lever 30. Barrel assembly 20 is pivotally mounted at one end to frame assembly 22, as by pivot pin 32. Both assemblies are held in operative firing relation by releasable detent means shown, for simplicity, as simple friction snap lock 34. Trigger guard 36 has one end pivotally mounted to a bracket on the underside of the barrel assembly, the other end of the guard being slidable supported in slot 38 (as in FIG. 5) in stock 24. Thus, when the weapon is broken open, as in FIG. 2, the latter end of the guard will slide into the hollow interior of the stock.

FIG. 3 shows the breech end of the barrel assembly which comprises a plurality of gun barrels 38, preferably six in number arranged in three tiers of two barrels each, all parallel to one another. The barrels typically, but not necessarily, are of the same caliber. In the description hereinafter, for illustrative purposes, it will be assumed that the weapon is chambered to accept and fire standard, long-rifle, caliber .22, rim-fire ammunition.

As shown in broken line in FIG. 4, the bore adjacent breech end 39 of each barrel is slightly oversize to hold the'cartridge case. An annular recess or lip 40 is provided for each barrel immediately adjacent breech end 39 to accommodate the rim of the cartridge case. A shell ejector mechanism is included for removing spent cases from the barrels and comprises ejector plate 42 ordinarily nested in a recess in breech end 39 cut so that plate 42, in its nested position, underlies a portion of each lip 40 of each barrel, with a surface of the plate being flush with the surface of each lip. Means are provided for moving plate 42 in a direction normal to its surfaces, and to this end, the barrel assembly includes a pair of blind holes 44 and 46 drilled parallel to the barrels. Disposed in each blind hole is a corresponding pin 48, one end of which is fixed to plate 42. The other end of each pin is against a corresponding compression spring 43. Thus, because the springs serve to bias plate 42 out of its nested position, it will be apparent that if the plate underlies any cartridge case rims, this motion of the plate will tend to remove the spent cases from the barrels.

Mounted on the forward portion of frame assembly 22 is breech block 50 as shown generally in FIG. 5. When the weapon 'is in the closed position (as in FIG. I), block 50 close ly abuts the breech end of the barrel assembly. The breech block, shown in detail in FIGS. 6-8, includes a plurality of apertures 52 positioned so as to be aligned parallel to the bores of the barrels, each aperture being located so as to be aligned with a portion of a rim of a cartridge in a corresponding bore when the weapon is loaded and closed. As shown in particular in FIG. 8, each aperture is internally stepped so as to define a small cylindrical hole 54 adjacent to front surface 55 of block 50 (intended to abut the barrel assembly); cylindrical hole 56 of somewhat larger diameter; and larger threaded orifice 58 which extends to back surface 59 of the block.

Slidably disposed within each of holes 52 is a corresponding one of firing pins 60. Each pin 60 comprises stem 62 which is sized to be slidable within hole 54, and a body 64 of somewhat larger diameter than the stem. Encircling the body, intermediate its length and secured thereto, is ring 66 which is slightly lesser in diameter than hole 56 and slidable therein, Resilient means, such as coil spring 68, is disposed within hole 56 so as to bias pin 60 away from surface 55v Disposed within and engageable with threaded orifice 58 is hollow screw 70. Hole 72, sized to permit passage of body 64 of pin 60, is formed axially through the center of screw 70. The length of each pin 60 is such that when the weapon is closed, the hammer end of the pin will normally extend under the bias of spring 68 outwardly beyond the head of screw 70, but the stem of the pin (i.e. the striker end) will lie adjacent the rim of a cartridge contained within the corresponding bore.

Vertical dovetail slot 72 is formed (as shown in FIG. 7) in the center of surface 59 of block 50. Dovetail slot 72 extends upwardly from the bottom edge of block 50 substantially between each pair of apertures 52 and terminates approximately adjacent to the top row of the apertures. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 particularly, there is provided arming lever 74 slidingly disposed in slot 72. Lever 74 is vertically elongated and is wedge shaped in cross section to lock laterally within slot 72 while being free for longitudinal motion (i.e. up and down). The rear surface of the lever, identified generally at 76 is provided with three vertically spaced, horizontally extending, convex hammer lifters or ridges 78. The distance between each pair of ridges 78 is substantially equal to the vertical spacing between each pair of tiers of holes 52. Also projecting from surface 76 is lever arm 80 which extends downwardly at a slight angle from the top edge of the arming lever. The outward end of arm 80 bears toothed gear surface 82 which lies in a plane substantially parallel to the mean plane of surface 76. Compression spring 83 is connected to the upper end of arming lever 74 and to block 50 so as to bias lever 74 into a normal position away from the top of slot 72.

Referring particularly to FIGS. and 9, there is shown quadrant gear 84 which has a curved, toothed gear surface 86, sized and disposed to mesh with gear surface 82. Gear 84 is pivotally mounted on breech frame 22 by pivot pin 88 disposed across the frame and extending outwardly through the latter. The extension of pin 88 has fixed thereto safety lever 29. Rotation of the latter, either clockwise or counterclockwise will cause quadrant gear 84 to rotate, and the engagement of surfaces 86 and 82 will thereby move arming lever 74 vertically within dovetail slot 72 either up or down according to the sense of rotation of lever 29.

Referring again to FIG. 9, lever 74 is provided with arm 90 which extends from lever 74 perpendicularly to the long axis of the latter and substantially in the opposite direction to lever arm 80. Ann 90 terminates in a toothed or gear surface 92. The relationship of cocking lever 28 to lever 74 is shown in FIG. 9, cocking lever 28 being rotatably mounted at an intermediate portion thereof upon pivot pin 32. It will be seen that lever 28 is shaped and dimensioned so that the end thereof without gear teeth is engageable with barrel assembly when the weapon is broken open, as shown in FIG. 2; the other end of lever 28 terminates in toothed surface 94 which is engageable with surface 92. Preferably, the teeth of surface 94 vary proportionately in size with the uppermost tooth being the smallest while the lowermost tooth is the largest. The teeth of surface 92, on the other hand, are all substantially uniform in size.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, there are shown six hammers 96 mounted in an array such that each hammer is positioned to engage the hammer end of a corresponding firing pin 60. Each hammer comprises hammerhead 97 and trip arm 98, the two portions extending at an angle to one another. The hammers are arranged, as are the firing pins, in tiers, each such tier of hammers being pivotally mounted on surface 59 for rotation independently of one another about a common pivot pin 99 extending through a portion of the hammer intermediate trip arm 98 and hammerhead 97. Thus, there are three pivot pins 99, each pivot pin being secured to the surface of block 50 by an appropriate pair of flanges. Each hammer is individually spring loaded by being coupled to a corresponding compression spring 100 (only one of which is shown as exemplary in FIG. 5). One end of spring 100 is connected to hammerhead 97 as at flange 102, the other end of spring 100 extending into contact with an interior portion of stock 24. It will be seen from FIG. 6 that regardless of the particular location of each pair of hammers, the trip arms of the hammers are dimensioned so that all six trip arms terminate substantially along a common line. To cf-. fect this, one pair of hammers has relatively short trip arms, another pair relatively long trip arms, and a third, lying intermediate the first two pairs in location, have trip arms of relatively intermediate length.

As shown particularly in FIG. 8, each hammer, adjacent pivot pin 99, is provided with a relatively flat cam surface 104, facing surface 59. These surfaces 104 are shaped and dimensioned to engage corresponding ridges 78 of arming lever 74 as will be described hereinafter.

Preferably, each pin 99 is fixed so that it will not rotate about its long axis. Fixed to each pin, and lying immediately adjacent a corresponding hammer 96 is a respective flat locking disc 106. Each disc includes a protruding locking catch 108 which extends into the path of rotation of the hammer about pin 99. Each hammer is therefore provided with a notch 110 positioned to engage locking catch 108 when the hammer is in its cocked position. Other types of sears may of course be employed.

Lastly, as shown particularly in FIG. 10, trigger 26 includes a manually engageable portion 112 which is intended to extend out of the frame assembly 22, and a substantially flattened trip portion 114 connected at an angle to portion 112. Trigger 26 is mounted within assembly 22 by pivot pin 116 which extends through the trigger at a position near the junction of portions 112 and 114. The trigger is shaped so that when it is pivoted about pin 116, portion 114 rotates substantially perpendicularly to its plane. Portion 114 is provided on one side of its centerline 117 with two notches, the back end of portion 114 being considered one of these notches, each of which defines an edge spaced a different length from pivot pin 116 the end of portion 114 opposite pin I16 defining a third such edge. Similarly, the other side of the centerline of portion 114 is provided with three other notches each of which defines an edge spaced a different distance from pivot 116, no two notches being the same distance from the pivot pin. Trigger 26 and breech block 50 are so disposed that each of the edges defined by the back end and by the notches in portion 114 of trigger 26 will engage a corresponding trip arm of a respective hammer 96 at a unique rotational position of the trigger about pin 116. Portion 114 is also provided with a central aperture 118 positioned so that the lower end of anning lever 74 may slide therethrough. Trigger 26 is biased by spring 120 into a normal position from whence it may be manually rotated to contact the trip arms.

As shown in phantom in FIG. 11, firing selector lever 30 is pivotally coupled to eccentric cam 121, the latter being positioned within assembly 22 so that its surface provides a limit stop to the rotation of trigger 26. Thus, rotations of lever 30 rotates cam 121, the angular position of the lever and the shape of the cam being calibrated so that, for example, at position 3 the rotation of trigger 26 is limited to that which would permit actuation by the trigger of only three hammers. Thus, the firing selector lever and cam 121 are arranged so that there are six discrete positions of the lever, at each of which positions, maximum rotation of the trigger is limited to the tripping of successively one, two, three etc. hammers. Each position is appropriately identified by some visual indicia such as a numeral.

Assuming that one commencesoperation by breaking open the weapon by releasing catch 34 and pivoting the barrel about pivot 32, this releases any restraint that may have held plate 42 in its nested position. Springs 43, therefore, impel pins 48 to force plate 42 out of its nested position. Any cartridge cases, the rims of which are engaged by plate 42, will therefore be forced from their respective barrels and can ridge 78 to engage a respective tier of cam surfaces 104 of the hammers, causing the hammers to rotate so that the hammer heads are forced away from the firing pins and compressing the respective springs 100. The rotation of the hammers is sufficient to cause each locking catch 108 to engage frictionally the corresponding notch 110. When the weapon is closed, releasing the restrain on cocking lever 28 so that the latter may again rotate, spring 83 can return the arming lever to its normal downward position, releasing ridges 78 from their engagement with cam surface 104. However, the hammers will remain intheir cocked position by virtue of the frictional engagement of he respective catches 108 with notches 110. The closure of the weapon also brings the cartridge cases in contact with front surfaces 55 of block 50. This serves to force the in engagement with cam surfaces 104. Under these circumstances, even if the respective catches 108 were disengaged from notches 110, the hammers would be unable to rotate and cause the hammerheads to strike the firing pins.

If one wishes to fire merely a single barrel, the selector lever 30 is set at the one" position and the trigger pulled. The rotation of the trigger is, in this case, restrained so that only one of the trip levers 98 can be engaged. The pressure of the trip portion 114 of trigger 112 against the selected trip lever 98 overcomes the frictional force holding the locking catch and notch together, causing them to disengage and permitting the hammer to rotate under the bias of spring 100 to strike the corresponding firing pin 60. When pin is struck, the forward end of the pin is driven into the rear of the cartridge case, causing the primer in the latter to explode. Obviously, one can select up to six barrels for firing by appropriate disposition of the selector lever. For example, if one sets the selector lever at position six, the rotation of the trigger will cause the six trip levers to be actuated in sequence. lnasmuch as the angular motion required for the trigger to successively release trip levers may be extremely small, the sequential release of the six will appear as substantially simultaneous. On the other hand, if one wishes to fire the weapon as a singleshot device only, the selector lever can be set at successive positions, a single shot being fired each time following the reset of the selector lever. If one dimensions the weapon so that a substantial amount of trigger rotation is required between successive shots, it will be apparent that by delicate rotations of the trigger, only through that limited amount required, one can successively fire spaced single shots simply by setting the lever also at a multiple position, or fire simultaneous" shots by quickly rotating the trigger through its permissible arc.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be inte reted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

hatl claim is:

1. A firearm comprising a plurality of barrels;

a like plurality of mechanisms, each associated with a corresponding barrel for firing a corresponding cartridge in said barrel;

a single manually engageable trigger for actuating said firing mechanisms; and

means for selectively controlling discharge of said firearm so that upon a single operation of said trigger, any selected number of said plurality of firing mechanisms can be actuated substantially simultaneously.

2. A firearm as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for controlling includes a manually operable selector lever mounted for movement to any of a like plurality of positions, and indicia identifying each of said positions. 

1. A firearm comprising a plurality of barrels; a like plurality of mechanisms, each associated with a corresponding barrel for firing a corresponding cartridge in said barrel; a single manually engageable trigger for actuating said firing mechanisms; and means for selectively controlling discharge of said firearm so that upon a single operation of said trigger, any selected number of said plurality of firing mechanisms can be actuated substantially simultaneously.
 2. A firearm as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for controlling includes a manually operable selector lever mounted for movement to any of a like plurality of positions, and indicia identifying each of said positions. 